Improved compound foe use ik safes and x p powder-magazines



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EDWARD H. ASHCROFT, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent 1V0. 76,133gdr1ted flIarchBl, 1868.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known thatI, EDWARD H. Asnonorr, of the city of Lynn, county ofEssex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inProtecting Safes from the Action of Heat, by the use of chemicals placedwithin the outer walls of the same; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description of the same.

The object of my invention is to providematerials or compounds, to beused in one of the inner compartments of safes, and around the chambersof powder-magazines, which, upon the action of a certain degree of heat,will evolve incombustible gases or vapor, thus protecting the contentsof the safe or magazine from the destroying action of heat or fire.

To enable others skilled in the art to make use of my invention, I willproceed to describe the same.'

I make use of certain salts or'chemicals which I have found to answerthe above purpose, such as bicarbonate ofsoda, carbonates of ammonia, orother volatile salts, with or without a liquid acid.

I place in one of the inner perforated compartments of a safe, or inseveral different places around the chamber of a powder magazine,metallic tubes or'vials, filled with a liquid acid, (sulphuric acid, forinstance,) one or both ends of such tube or vial being stopped with aneasily-fusible alloy. I surround this, and place in immediate contactwith it, bicarbonate of soda. Ithen put into the'compartments a largeproportion of carh'ona'te of' ammonia, or other volatile salts.

, In case the safe, or chamber of the powdermagazine, becomes heated toabout 212 F.,the above-mentioned fusible alloy melts, thus opening thevial; the acid runs out,'and, coming in contact with the surroundingbicarbonate of soda, immediately eliminates carbonic acid gas, whichfills the safe or powder-magazine, and is non-combustible. The evolutionof this gas having ceased, and if the safe orpowder-magazine is stilllonger heated,,the carbonate of ammonia or other volatile salt vaporizesslowly, and, being also non-combustible pro-'.

tects the contents of the safe or powder-magazine.

I do not'limit myself to these particular salts, nor do I limit myselfto any particular proportions, nor is it absolutely necessary to use theliquid acid, as the volatile salts will answer the purpose more or lessperfectly by themselves. g g

I am aware that somewhat similar compounds or materials have beenheretofore used for extinguishing fire and flame, but my invention isfor use in safesor powder-magazines, as a protection against the actionof heat, on the land or onboard of vessels;

Having thusdescribed my invention, I claiin as new,and desire to secureby Letters Patent- The salts or chemical compounds hereindescribed,ywith or without liquid acids, or any other materialssubstantially the same, all as and for the purposes set forth,

E. H. ASHCROFT,

Witnesses:

EDWIN J. WRIGHT, CHARLES E. Asncnorr.

